Price Tag: $98
Official URL: http://www.stridersports.com
Age Range: 1-5
Rating:

Balance bikes are the newest “first bike” for children. They are lighter than traditional pedal bikes with training wheels or tricycles,  and they encourage a child’s natural sense of balance rather than allowing the child to rely on teetering from one wheel to another. The Strider balance bike boasts a strong steel frame and fork, height-adjustable handlebars and seat, and weighs in at less than 7lbs, a perfect weight for a young child to be able to move and carry on their own.  The broad airless rubber wheels of this bike and the thick frame design make this an ideal off-road bike, perfect for children to ride on dirt trails or around the backyard.

LEARNING CURVE

When my son first got this bike, he was 18 months old, and found it a bit intimidating. He liked to look at it, he liked that it looked like big kid bikes, and he liked to sit on it  for short bits of time. Mostly, though, he liked to spin its wheels and push it around while holding it by the handlebars. Over the next few months I watched him become more adventurous with it, choosing to straddle the cross-bar and toddle around while pushing the bike. Eventually he learned to sit and push at the same time. Different kids will have different learning curves for this bike, as I’ve seen at the playground, some kids will jump right into riding it, and others will be more tentative.  No matter what your child’s learning style, though, the process of learning how to ride this bike is a very natural one of exploration, curiosity, and pushing to see what is possible.

STYLE

This little bike comes in six colors: Blue, green, orange, pink, red, and yellow.  All with the sporty “STRIDER” logo on the cross piece of the bike’s frame. It resembles a pint-sized mountain bike, and is totally cute.

EASE OF ASSEMBLY

This bike requires some assembly, but the parts fit together quickly and the instructions are easy to understand. The construction of the bike is very simple, since there are no pedals or chain to worry about.  One thing I’d recommend is that if you have a younger child, make sure that the seat is adjusted to the lowest height, even if your child is a bit tall for it. They’re not going to zoom away the first time you put them on the bike, and the lower height seems to be less intimidating because they can easily sit on the bike and get off of it without losing their balance. It took about 15 minutes to assemble the bike and to adjust everything to the proper height. I’d definitely suggest assembling this in advance, as an excited and impatient toddler or pre-schooler does add a bit of time to the assembly process.

DURABILITY

Apart from the seat, the hand grips and the tires, this bike is made of metal and as long as it’s not neglected and allowed to rust, it will last for a long time. The foam tires will wear out with constant use, The seat is padded and covered with a vinyl-like material, and is possibly the least durable part on the bike. Despite this, the seat holds up to wear and tear very VERY well.  Replacement grips are $4 or $10 if you want to simply replace the handlebar set at the same time, a replacement seat with post is $10. Replacement tires are $10/each.   This little bike can easily be handed down from sibling to sibling with a few replacement parts.

SIZING & ADJUSTABILITY

The handlebar and seat adjust in height to fit riders from 30″ to 44″ tall (saddle height adjusts from 11″ to 16″ from ground), and the bike can accommodate riders up to 50lbs. Adjustments of the seat and handlebars require a wrench. A  quick-release seat clamp is available as an accessory on the Strider Sport web store for $6 at the time of this writing. If multiple children use this bike, it makes quick on-the-fly adjustments easier.

The bike weighs less than 7lbs, making it perfect for children as young as two years old to carry themselves. My three year old son loves picking his bike up and carrying it over to where he rides it, making it one of his favorite choices for outdoor play. It makes him feel like a big kid.

SAFETY

The frame and fork of this bike are made from steel for strength and safety, and the tires are a puncture-proof solid foam design making potentially hazardous tire blow-outs impossible.  The paint is certified to be significantly below the CA Prop. 65 limits for heavy metal content, including lead. Adjustments to the seat and handlebar height require a wrench, which means that these parts are less prone to slipping than tool-free designs sometimes utilized in bikes that target young children.

BOTTOM LINE

This bike is seriously well made, and a lot of fun for kids that are just learning how to ride. I like that it encourages my son’s sense of balance and direction, and my son loves that it’s sized for him and that it looks exactly like a big kid bike. This would be a great gift for your child’s second or third birthday, or for Christmas this year!